ELs and the Common Core State Standards

With Kentucky’s official acceptance of the forthcoming Common Core State Standards just last week, national curiosity about the standards is rising. Governors and education leaders from every state save the two largest landmasses, Texas and Alaska, have committed to develop common standards for grades K-12.

The committee tasked with creating these standards is made up of education experts from organizations like ACT, the College Board, and the National Association of State Boards of Education. Their goal is to develop standards that will align with current research, international benchmarks, and expectations from universities and the work field.

Though the finals standards are still in revision, we’ve taken a look at the drafts to see what these new standards have in store for English learners. Here's a brief look at some of the resources English learners will need access to under the current draft of the Common Core State Standards:

• Requisite coursework to prepare for post-secondary education
• Coursework that is made comprehensible
• Trained teachers and others
• Well-designed opportunities for classroom discourse
• English speakers who provide models and support
• Ongoing assessment and feedback to guide learning
• Language proficiency standards to guide instruction

We're thrilled to see the special needs of English learners being considered, especially with our nation's steadily increasing EL population (and steadily decreasing graduation rates of said population). This March, the committee plans to release a preliminary draft for public comment here, so you can share your own expert recommendations. If you were a member on the committee, what would you recommend adding to this list?